Wisconsin Cousins

My mother had an aunt and cousins who lived in Wisconsin.  They stayed in touch through the years, but the next generation lost touch. I have now made contact with a 2nd cousin in Wisconsin.  Her mother-in-law, my 1st cousin once removed, will be celebrating her 90th birthday next month, while her sister just passed away at age 91.  These ladies were daughters of my grandma's brother, Irwin Phelps.  Family reunions aren't as easy to pull off these days, but how nice to have the Internet to keep in touch with cousins. 

Flickinger Findings

It's been a busy genealogy time this winter.  I made contact with Margaret/Maggie on her line that involved the Flickinger that is mentioned in my blog under the Libby Murder.  That research is ongoing and very much fun.  We may solve a mystery of many decades!

Update:  We did indeed solve a decades old mystery!  Maggie's father had a daughter by an earlier marriage that no one in his second family knew about.  After a divorce, his first wife married three other men, the last of which was Flickinger.  This was the connection that helped us fill in the puzzle pieces.

Maggie has found the half-sister, unfortunately over a year too late since the half sister died in 2011 always wondering about her father and keeping his last name as her middle name, but Maggie now has new nieces who are busy getting acquainted with their "step aunt."  As the two families swap stories, they are filling in the gaps for each other, and planning a get together.  What a fun and rewarding time this has been!

Genealogy Cousins Meet

Genealogy has its wonderful surprises.  We have been blessed by a visit from fourth cousins from New Hampshire, Bill and Karen.  Our weather was very cooperative and we've enjoyed getting acquainted while sightseeing in and around St. George.  On our first day we found cowgirl boots, shopped the Outlets, dined at Bucca di Beppo and saw The Piano Men at Cox Auditorium, Dixie State College.  It was a full, fun-packed day and we are excited to gain such wonderful cousins from my Libby line.  Here's a photo from on top of Red Hills Parkway overlooking St. George.

  And dining at Buca di Beppo:

Normally, New Hampshire natives don't play golf in February:

New Printer

Got a new HP PhotoSmart 6250 today after my five year old PhotoSmart was diagnosed as terminal.  Love the new e-capabilities.

2012 Christmas Eve

For Calvary Chapel St. George's Christmas Eve service at the Dixie Center, I got to play piano [OK, keyboard] prelude. I'll post photos of the event.

(1) Me
(2) The Band
(3) Children's Choir
(4) Setting up the convention hall

Learning New Techniques

While playing with different photo programs, this capability really captured my interest.  The photo editor that I liked so much disappeared with my old computer and isn’t offered anymore – nor will the old program play nice with my new computer.  So once I figure out how to recreate this and which program introduced it, maybe I can cause people to think I’m my own grandma!!

Toole Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful trip (outside of an allergy to cats!!) to the Bay Area for our annual pre-Thanksgiving celebration with several kids and their families.  For our photos from that event, go to this photo album:  Toole Thanksgiving